TSA's 'Quiet Storm' program uses FAMs to track and surveil domestic passengers
#1
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TSA's 'Quiet Storm' program uses FAMs to track and surveil domestic passengers
https://apps.bostonglobe.com/news/na...a-quiet-skies/
The article lists a large number of "checkpoints" that "identify" potential terrorists. Here we go again with another unconstitutional surveillance program. My tagline continues to describe how passengers are treated in the USA simply because they wish to use airplanes for transportation.
Federal air marshals have begun following ordinary US citizens not suspected of a crime or on any terrorist watch list and collecting extensive information about their movements and behavior under a new domestic surveillance program that is drawing criticism from within the agency.
The previously undisclosed program, called “Quiet Skies,” specifically targets travelers who “are not under investigation by any agency and are not in the Terrorist Screening Data Base,” according to a Transportation Security Administration bulletin in March.
[...]
Already under Quiet Skies, thousands of unsuspecting Americans have been subjected to targeted airport and inflight surveillance, carried out by small teams of armed, undercover air marshals, government documents show. The teams document whether passengers fidget, use a computer, have a “jump” in their Adam’s apple or a “cold penetrating stare,” among other behaviors, according to the records.
The previously undisclosed program, called “Quiet Skies,” specifically targets travelers who “are not under investigation by any agency and are not in the Terrorist Screening Data Base,” according to a Transportation Security Administration bulletin in March.
[...]
Already under Quiet Skies, thousands of unsuspecting Americans have been subjected to targeted airport and inflight surveillance, carried out by small teams of armed, undercover air marshals, government documents show. The teams document whether passengers fidget, use a computer, have a “jump” in their Adam’s apple or a “cold penetrating stare,” among other behaviors, according to the records.
Last edited by essxjay; Jul 31, 2018 at 6:19 pm Reason: trimmed for respect to copyrights
#2
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I'm currently finishing the Snowden movie and see this thread. How far we've come but stuck in the same place.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Seventeen years and never having caught a terrorist, I guess TSA feels it has to try even harder to catch somebody doing something, like reversing direction while walking through an airport.
Who dreams up this nonsense!?!?!?
"Already under Quiet Skies, thousands of unsuspecting Americans have been subjected to targeted airport and inflight surveillance, carried out by small teams of armed, undercover air marshals, government documents show."
"All US citizens who enter the country are automatically screened for inclusion in Quiet Skies...."
Perhaps TSA needs name to add to their list of misbehaving passengers and believes this is a good way to do so.
Who dreams up this nonsense!?!?!?
"Already under Quiet Skies, thousands of unsuspecting Americans have been subjected to targeted airport and inflight surveillance, carried out by small teams of armed, undercover air marshals, government documents show."
"All US citizens who enter the country are automatically screened for inclusion in Quiet Skies...."
Perhaps TSA needs name to add to their list of misbehaving passengers and believes this is a good way to do so.
Last edited by petaluma1; Jul 29, 2018 at 7:24 am
#4
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TSA officials, in a written statement to the Globe, broadly defended the agency’s efforts to deter potential acts of terror. But the agency declined to discuss whether Quiet Skies has intercepted any threats, or even to confirm that the program exists. Release of such information “would make passengers less safe,” spokesman James Gregory said in the statement.
Already under Quiet Skies, thousands of unsuspecting Americans have been subjected to targeted airport and inflight surveillance, carried out by small teams of armed, undercover air marshals, government documents show. The teams document whether passengers fidget, use a computer, have a “jump” in their Adam’s apple or a “cold penetrating stare,” among other behaviors, according to the records.
Air marshals note these observations — minute-by-minute — in two separate reports and send this information back to the TSA.
Air marshals note these observations — minute-by-minute — in two separate reports and send this information back to the TSA.
Did you scan the boarding area from afar?
Have a cold, penetrating stare?
Sleep on the plane? Use the bathroom? Talk to others?
Have a cold, penetrating stare?
Sleep on the plane? Use the bathroom? Talk to others?
TSA is always trying to expand its reach into our lives. Time for Congress to clip TSA's wings.
Last edited by Boggie Dog; Jul 29, 2018 at 7:54 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
http://thehill.com/policy/transporta...pot-terrorists
Actually, they did read it, ignored it and have now doubled down.
Last edited by petaluma1; Jul 29, 2018 at 8:15 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Wear a pair of glasses like these while walking through an airport. It will drive the FAMs nuts.
https://tinyurl.com/y8z9gdlu
https://tinyurl.com/y8z9gdlu
#8
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Wear a pair of glasses like these while walking through an airport. It will drive the FAMs nuts.
https://tinyurl.com/y8z9gdlu
https://tinyurl.com/y8z9gdlu
#9
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I take pity on the any person if they were assigned to watch me last week at JFK Terminal 2. I was all over the place. Probably ticked off all the boxes of behaviors to watch for just like during the SPOT program.
#13
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That's probably a good way to get put on one of the real pain in the butt DHS lists. I was wrongly on one when DHS/TSA first was formed and let me tell you it's not fun and getting off of one once on is even harder. Got questioned about it during my GE, Nexus and other gov't background interviews.
#14
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Quoted from a recent NBC news story: "When asked how much this program costs each year, the TSA responded that releasing that information will make travelers unsafe." Hmmmm...just great.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
That same NBC news story also indicated that the program has been in existence since 2010 - however, I wonder if NBC got this mixed up with SPOT.